Let me tell you about 'national single payer' insurance...or Medicare and how it affects all populations - but devastating in the poverty communities. Medicare will only cover certain costs in matters of severe illness. Medicare will pay 100 percent of Hospice. What do you think is chosen in the poverty stricken community? So a family watches a member die but with 100 percent coverage.

Medicaid (as you know, run by each individual state) will pick up Medicare Part B premiums if you make below a certain threshold. Each state determines that income threshold. In some states that threshold for a single person is less than 20K a year...which, first, who the hell could live on that and second, if you were making less than 20K a year - your health insurance might be the least of your worries unless it became a huge medical situation.

Take Medicaid out of the picture - Medicare part B premiums vary on the Fed side...but sometimes can be astronomical and one usually has to have a supplemental (at an additional cost) to get the coverage one needs. Those that do not have a supplemental generally have to pay, on average, 150.00 per doc visit.

I could go on and on. Yes, Canada and Europe have felt so superior to the US with their health care systems. BUT - I have a couple of friends who are Canadians and we could talk about waiting lists if you want. Also - look what has just been exposed - the amount of money the US (you and I) have given to both Europe and Canada to subsidize their defense is ridiculous. Without US tax dollar subsidation - they would not be able to afford their health care systems. So guess they should not have been feeling so superior to Americans as we were footing their bill.

Prior to 1993, we had workable insurance in this country - HMO's etc.,...that were destoryed with the idea that the Health Care System should have an overhaul. Don't get me started on the ACA - and who enriched themselves from it.